Persian violet
Exacum affine
Overview
The Persian violet (Exacum affine) is truly a sight to behold. Its shimmering, bright purple flowers are contrasted against lush green foliage creating a stunning visual impact. Each delicate flower has an intricate, five-pointed star-like shape, further complemented by yellow-tinged white centers and a delicate fragrance. Adding to its enchantment, this low-growing, perennial plant is hardy and thrives in a variety of conditions. It's perfect for borders in both gardens and containers, and is an ideal choice for supplying continuous, pop-up colour to any landscape. Truly an amazing plant!
Care Guide
Watering
Water Persian violets every 7 to 10 days, giving them enough to make the soil moist but not saturated or soggy. This should be about 1/2 cup of water every time. If the soil has already been saturated because of a heavy rainfall, it is best to wait for the soil to dry out before watering again. During the colder winter months, Persian violets may only need to be watered once every 10 days to 2 weeks.
Light
Persian violet (Exacum affine) requires bright, indirect sunlight for best growth. Ideally, it should receive 4-6 hours of filtered sunlight from a south or east-facing window each day. During the summer months, Persian violets can tolerate up to 8 hours of sunlight, but it should be filtered through a sheer curtain or indirect sunlight. Too much direct sunlight can burn or discolor the foliage and inhibit the flower growth. Make sure to avoid low light locations, as these can reduce the number of flower blooms the plant produces.
Temperature
Hardiness zone 10–12.
Pruning
It is recommended to lightly prune a Persian violet (Exacum affine) once a year in late spring or early summer. It is best to only take off fading or diseased stems. To do this, use small pruning shears to make a clean cut, removing no more than 1/3 of the plant’s growth. Pruning too much can stunt the plant’s development, so it is important to be conservative when pruning.
Propagation
Stem Propagation, Leaf Cutting, Division, Seed Propagation
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